DESC:PRIORITY CLAIM:
[0001] This application claims priority from the provisional application numbered 201841026219 filed with Indian Patent Office, Chennai on 13th July 2018 titled “Polyherbal formulation and method for production thereof”, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Preamble to the Description
[0002] The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which is to be performed:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical field of the invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a polyherbal extract formulation comprising whole herbs and extracts from the herbs. The formulation is prepared using guava leaf powder, guava leaf extract, jamun fruit powder, jamun seed extract, bitter gourd fruit powder and amla fruit powder. More particularly, the invention relates to the formulation made of polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenes and tannins extracted from the natural plant source.
Background of the invention
[0003] Polyphenols are widely distributed in plants and a major class of secondary plant products. More than 5000 different polyphenols have been identified and the estimated number of polyphenols in nature is most likely much higher than that due to the complexity of the class of compounds. In general polyphenols are found in plants as free polyphenol monomers (e.g. flavanols, flavanones, flavones, anthocyanidins) or as conjugated tannins such as hydrolysable tannins, derived tannins or condensed tannins and proanthocyanins.
[0004] Guava (Psidium guajava) is a common tropical fruit cultivated and enjoyed in many tropical and subtropical regions. Guava belongs to the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Guava leaves possess properties that soften blood vessels, lowers blood sugar, blood fat and cholesterol, quickly eliminate the effect of fatigue while helping to delay the peroxidation process. It also helps in prevention of cancer, heart disease and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The medicinal properties of guava leaves are due to the important polyphenols present in them.
[0005] The patent application “IN2004CH01348A” titled “An anti-diabetic herbal formulation and the process of preparing the same” discloses an anti- diabetic herbal formulation comprising of Coccinia Indica, Psidium Guajava. The ingredients are cleaned, dried, pulverized and sieved to obtain fine powder which are mixed to obtain a uniform blend to form into tablets. The process for preparation of the herbal formulation comprises dehydrating the fresh unripe fruits of Coccinia Indica and Psidium Guajava, air dried cleaned leaves of Tribulus terrestris, Centella asiatia, Aegle marmelos, Hibiscus rosa sinensis and Solanum trilobatum, cleaning and drying the leaves and flowers of Cassia auriculata, cleaning the seeds of Trigonella foenumgraecum followed by germinating the seeds for about 24 hours and drying, cleaning and drying the seeds of Terminalla bellerica and Syzyglum jambolanum, cleaning and drying the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Withania somnifera, cleaning and drying the barks of Terminalia arjuna, cleaning and drying the riped fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, drying/frying/baking the seeds of Macrotyloma uniflorum and removing the seed coats. The dried ingredients from the plant sources are pulverized and sieved with a 100 micro mesh to obtain fine powder, mixing the powder to form a uniform blend for making tablets.

[0006] The US patent application “US5466455A” titled “Polyphase fluid-extraction process, resulting products and methods of use” discloses a process for polyphase fluid extraction of concentrated, active therapeutic components from parts of selected medicinal plants which have been identified chemotaxonomically. The consequential products-by-processes are defined as Concentrated Fluid Therapeutic Extracts, CFTE, of the selected plant types, where T represents a specific herbal plant family such as Symphytum, SYM, Taxus, TAX, Panax, PAN or Aloe, ALO. The process disclosed for CFTE preparation includes multiple and sequential stages of diffusional transfer of bioactive constituents from plant tissue into liquid extraction phase and vapor extraction phases under contact conditions of forced convection. The invention critically comprises primarily the therapeutic formulations based on CFTE including emulsions, aerosols, liposomes and controlled-release devices. Additionally, the treatment methods for a variety of mammalian diseases and conditions and complications of specific diseases.
[0007] The US Application US10293013B2 titled “Water soluble Psidium guajava leaf extract having standardized phytochemicals” discloses a method of obtaining Psidium guajava leaf extract having standardized phytochemicals. The leaf extract is highly soluble in water, and contains standardized phytochemicals such as, guaijaverin specifically saponins and polyphenols, which may be used in food and beverage products. The invention involves the specific method of filtration to obtain highly purified form of phytochemical from the leaf extract. The fraction of extract comprises phytochemical obtained through bio-activity guided fractionation which isolates different compounds, followed by purification and isolation of the single phytochemical from the enriched bioactive fraction. The phytochemical is identified as guaijaverin, which also exhibits anti-diabetic activity. The Psidium guajava leaf extract is useful in food and beverage industries and is used in different formulations such as chocolates, capsules, and aqua based supplement drinks.
[0008] Hence, in order to overcome the disadvantages that exist in the state of the art, a formulation with enhanced active ingredients from plant extracts is required. There are a lot of formulations made from guava leaf extract, however, the extraction methods need to be efficient enough to isolate and enhance the amount of active compounds to formulate as an effective drug dosage.
[0009] Summary of the invention
[0010] The invention overcomes the drawback in the existing prior art by providing a formulation from polyherbal extract obtained from plant extracts.
[0011] The formulation of the poly herbs comprises of extract from plants such as Guava (Psidium guajava), Jamun (Syzygium cumin), Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and Amla (Phyllanthus emblica).
[0012] The formulation comprises air-dried guava leaf powder at a concentration of 250mg, extracts from guava leaf at a concentration of the 100mg obtained by 60% ethanol extraction process, dried jamun fruit powder at a concentration of 100mg, jamun seed extract at a concentration of 20mg obtained by 70% ethanol extraction process, dried bitter gourd fruit powder at a concentration of 100mg and dried amla fruit powder at a concentration of 50mg.
[0013] The invention also discloses the method of extraction of guava with 60% ethanol. The air-dried guava leaf powder at a concentration of 2.2gm is mixed with 40 ml of 60% ethanol and stirred constantly at a temperature range between 600C to 700C for a time duration between 30 to 40 minutes. The contents of the flask are transferred into falcon tubes and centrifuged at 6000 rpm for a duration of 15 minutes and filtered through a funnel plugged with Whatman filter paper. The solvent from the filtrate is concentrated on rotary evaporator under vacuum at a temperature of about 450C to 500C at 60 rpm until all ethanol and water is evaporated completely to the obtain guava leaf extract.
[0014] The invention further discloses the extraction of jamun seed powder. The jamun seed powder at a concentration of 2gm is mixed with 40 ml of 70% ethanol with constant stirring at a temperature between 600C to 700C for a time duration between 30 to 40 minutes. The contents of the flask are transferred into falcon tubes and centrifuged at 6000 rpm for a duration of 15 minutes and filtered through a funnel plugged with Whatman filter paper. The solvent from the filtrate is concentrated on rotary evaporator under vacuum at a temperature range between 450C to 500C at 60 rpm until all ethanol and water solvent is evaporated completely to obtain the jamun seed extract.
[0015] The formulation of the invention is useful in management of diabetes due to combination of whole herb and extracts. Thus, providing a natural remedy without causing any side effects in an individual.
[0016] The extraction methods and the formulation of herbs depicted the presence of active ingredients such as gallic acid, citric acid, pedunculagin from amla fruit powder, catechin and ellagic acid from jamun extract. Quercetin diglycoside, isoquercetin, guaijaverin and morin-3-O-a-lyxopyranoside from guava leaf powder and guava leaf extract. Momordicoside I, momordicine I from bitter gourd fruit powder. The formulation is also effective in reducing the blood glucose levels. The formulation is consumed in different forms such as supplements, snack bar or a drink apart from formulation as tablets or capsules.
Brief description of the drawings
[0017] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0018] FIG 1 tabulates the ingredient and their weight composition in the formulation.
[0019] FIG 2 illustrates the extraction procedure to obtain the extracts from the herbs.
[0020] FIG 3a illustrates the elution peaks based on the retention time of the active ingredients of the formulation using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LCMS).
[0021] FIG 3b tabulates the active ingredients identified from each of the herbs based on their retention time using an LCMS analysis.
[0022] FIG 4 illustrates a comparison of 24-hour glucose data recorded every 15 minutes with 3 trials.
[0023] FIG 5a depicts a graphical illustration of the trials conducted with different dose of formulation and monitoring the blood glucose for 24 hours
[0024] FIG 5b tabulates the results of the trials conducted with varying dose of the formulation.
[0025] Detailed description of the invention
[0026] In order to make the matter of the invention clear and concise, the following definitions are provided for specific terms used in the following description.
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.
[0028] In order to more clearly and concisely describe and point out the subject matter of the claimed invention, the following definitions are provided for specific terms, which are used in the following written description.
[0029] The term “formulation” means a material or mixture prepared using different ingredients in a specified ratio, as the context requires.
[0030] The term “Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS)” refers to an analytical chemistry technique combining both physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography and mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry.
[0031] The term “lyophilization”, means a dehydration process typically used to preserve a perishable material or make the material more convenient for transport, as the context requires.
[0032] The term “hydroalcoholic extract”, means a solid extract obtained by extracting the soluble principles of the drug with alcohol and water, followed by evaporation of the solution, as the context requires.
[0033] The term “super critical fluid extraction” means the process of separating one component from another, using supercritical fluids as the extracting solvent. Extraction is usually from a solid matrix, but can also be from liquids, as the context requires.
[0034] The term “Centrifugation” means the process in which a mixture is separated through spinning, as the context requires.
[0035] The term “Whatman filter paper” refers to a semi-permeable paper barrier placed perpendicular to a liquid or air flow. It is used to separate fine substances from liquids or air, as the context requires.
[0036] The formulation of the polyherbs comprises of extract form plants such as Guava (Psidium guajava), Jamun (Syzygium cumin), Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and Amla (Phyllanthus emblica).
[0037] The formulation provides various health benefits such as reduction of sugar levels in diabetic patients and aids in the prevention of obesity.
[0038] The invention discloses a poly herbal formulation comprising air-dried guava leaf powder, guava leaf extract, dried jamun fruit powder, jamun seed extract, dried bitter gourd fruit powder and dried amla fruit powder.
[0039] FIG 1 tabulates the ingredients and their weight composition in the formulation. The formulation comprises of air-dried guava leaf powder at a concentration of 250mg, guava leaf extract at a concentration of 100mg obtained by 60% ethanol extraction, dried jamun fruit powder at a concentration of 100mg, jamun seed extract at a concentration of 20mg obtained by 70% ethanol extraction, dried bitter gourd fruit powder at a concentration of 100 mg and dried amla fruit powder at a concentration of 50mg.
[0040] The ingredients at said concentration are dry blended to obtain a uniform blend of the formulation. The formulation is consumed in the form of supplements, snack bar or a drink in addition to routine formulations such as tablets and capsules.
[0041] FIG 2 illustrates the extraction procedure to obtain the extracts from the herbs. The method (200) of extraction from guava leaf powder and jamun seed powder comprises the step (201) of mixing the guava leaf powder or jamun seed powder with 40 ml of a suitable solvent. At step (202), the mixture is constantly stirred at a temperature range between 600C to 700C for time duration between 30 to 40 minutes. At step (203), the mixture is centrifuged at 6000 rpm for a time duration of 15 minutes. At step (204), the supernatant is filtered through a funnel plugged with a Whatman filter paper. At step (205), the solvent from the filtrate is concentrated on a rotary evaporator under vacuum at a temperature range between 450C to 500C at 60 rpm. Finally, at step (206), the solvent is evaporated completely to obtain the extract of the herb powder.
[0042] The invention discloses a method of extraction of guava with 60% ethanol. The air-dried guava leaves at a concentration of 2.2 gm are mixed with 40 ml of 60% ethanol and stirred constantly at a temperature range between 600C to 700C for a time duration between 30 to 40 minutes. The contents of the flask are transferred into falcon tubes and centrifuged at 6000 rpm for a time duration of 15 minutes and filtered through a funnel plugged with Whatman filter paper. The solvent from the filtrate is concentrated on rotary evaporator under vacuum at a temperature of about 450C to 500C at 60 rpm until all ethanol and water is evaporated completely to obtain the guava leaf extract.
[0043] The invention further discloses a method of extraction of Jamun seed powder. Jamun seed powder at a concentration of 2gm is mixed with 40ml of 70% ethanol with constant stirring at a temperature range between 600C to 700C for a time duration between 30 to 40 minutes. The contents of the flask are transferred into falcon tubes and centrifuged at 6000 rpm for a duration of 15 minutes and filtered through a funnel plugged with Whatman filter paper. The solvent from the filtrate is concentrated on rotary evaporator under the vacuum at a temperature of about 450C to 500C at 60 rpm until all ethanol and water solvent is evaporated completely to obtain the jamun seed extract.
[0044] Additionally, use of an extract from bitter gourd fruit powder and an extract from amla fruit powder also yield the same effect as the whole herb powder.
[0045] The herbs are extracted using several procedures in order to optimize or maximize the polyphenolic yield from each procedure. The examples below provide the details of the different trial extraction methods performed to standardize the extracts to formulate an anti-diabetic formulation.
Example 1: freeze drying.
[0046] The fresh plant leaves of guava are collected in a sterile icebox container and thoroughly rinsed with deionized water to remove dust and debris. Only healthy leaves are used for freeze drying, while contaminated sample such as infected, damaged by insects or animals, damaged during transport are discarded. 10gm of clean and fresh plant leaves are chopped into small pieces and maintained at -200C overnight for pre-lyophilization freezing in a 500ml round bottom flask. The frozen sample is then subjected for lyophilization for a time duration of about 48 hours till they are dry. The freeze-dried sample are made into a powder and stored in an airtight container for further use.

Example 2: Extraction using Hydro-alcoholic extraction
[0047] 10gm of dried guava leaf powder is mixed with 200ml of 70% ethanol. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for a time duration of about 24 hours with continuous stirring on a magnetic stirrer. After 24 hours, the mixture is subjected for centrifugation at 7,000 rpm for a time duration of 10 minutes at a temperature of about 40C. The supernatant is then filtered using Whatman filter paper. The residual ethanol from the filtrate is removed using rotary evaporator under vacuum. The concentrate is then subjected for pre-lyophilization freezing, by incubating in a -200C freezer overnight. The frozen sample is then subjected to lyophilization for a time duration of about 48 hours to remove the water completely. The dry powder obtained is weighed and stored in an airtight container for further use.
Example 3: Extraction from guava leaves using Supercritical fluid extraction.
[0048] 10gm of dried guava leaf powder is packed in the sample vessel in the super critical fluid extractor. The CO2 flow rate is gradually increased from about 1g/min up to 15g/min. The pressure within the instrument is gradually increased up to 150psi. To facilitate optimum extraction and increase the yield, ethanol as a co-solvent could be used with a maximum of 2ml/min flow rate. The conditions are maintained for a period of 2 hours. The extract is collected from the collection vessel. If ethanol is used as a co-solvent, the extract containing ethanol is then subjected for rotary evaporation under vacuum till the sample is dried.
Example 4: Extraction from guava leaves using Fermentation:
[0049] Guava leaves are processed by solid-state co-fermentation with Monascus anka and Bacillus sp. A total of 0.4gm of dried fermented guava leaf powder is extracted with 10ml of 70% methanol by ultrasonic extraction (320 W, 400C) for 30 minutes. The suspension is filtered through Whatman filter paper, ethanol is removed on rotary evaporator under vacuum and water is removed by freeze drying.
[0050] The above examples describe the extraction methods used to formulate a polyherbal formulation comprising the extracts obtained through various extraction process include 20% of guava extract obtained from freeze drying, 30% of guava extract obtained from fermentation, 40% of guava extract obtained from hydro alcohol extraction and 10% of guava extract obtained from supercritical extraction process.
[0051] FIG 3a illustrates the elution peaks based on the retention time of the active ingredients of the formulation using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LCMS). The active ingredients are identified from each of the herb extract based on their retention time by LCMS analysis using formic acid method as represented in the FIG 3a. The formulation is studied to evaluate the active ingredients with respect to different retention time specific to each active ingredient of the herbs based on their elution using formic acid method. The results showed the presence of active ingredients such as gallic acid and citric acid, pedunculagin, catechin, ellagic acid, quercetin diglycoside, isoquercetin, guaijaverin, morin-3-O-a-lyxopyranoside, momordicoside I and momordicine I.
[0052] FIG 3b tabulates the active ingredients identified from each of the herbs based on their retention time (Rt). The active ingredients from amla fruit powder showed the presence of gallic acid with a Rt of 1.67 min, citric acid with a Rt of 0.82 min, pedunculagin with a Rt of 6.22 min. The active ingredients from jamun fruit powder and jamun seed extract showed the presence of catechin with a Rt of 5.01min, ellagic acid with a Rt of 6.50 min. The active ingredients from guava leaves showed the presence of quercetin diglycoside with a Rt of 6.51 minutes, isoquercetin with a Rt of 6.67 min, guaijaverin with a Rt of 7.06 min, morin-3-o-a-lyxopyranoside with a Rt of 7.15 min. The active ingredients from bitter gourd fruit powder showed the presence of momordicoside I with a Rt of 14.40 min, momordicine I with a Rt of 16.55 min.
[0053] The formulation and extraction methods depicted the presence of the active ingredients such as gallic acid and citric acid, pedunculagin from amla fruit powder, catechin and ellagic acid from jamun fruit powder and jamun seed extract. Quercetin diglycoside, isoquercetin, guaijaverin, morin-3-O-a-lyxopyranoside from guava leaves. Momordicoside I, momordicine I from bitter gourd fruit powder. The active ingredients of the formulation are effective in reducing the blood glucose levels.
[0054] FIG 4 illustrates a comparison of 24-hour glucose data recorded every 15 minutes with 3 trials. The effectiveness of the formulation in reducing glucose level was studied in a group of diabetic individuals. Each trial reveals the effect of the formulated tablet, trial 1 reveals the effect without the tablet, trial 2 reveals the effect with 1 tablet, trial 3 reveals the effect of 2 tablets with respect to the blood glucose level recorded every 15 minutes for 24 hours as shown in FIG 4. The results showed that as per the continuous monitoring report and comparing among the trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3, the formulation was able to reduce the post prandial spike in the blood sugar levels and reduce the spike in the morning fasting blood sugar levels.
[0055] FIG 5a depicts a graphical illustration of the trails conducted with different dose of formulation and monitoring the blood glucose for 24 hours. The effect of the formulation was studied on a group of diabetic individual. The graphical illustration FIG 5a reveals 3 trials, trial 1 involves a study on blood glucose level in an individual without the formulated tablet, trial 2 involves a study on blood glucose level in an individual with a single table dose and trial 3 involves a study on blood glucose level in an individual with two table dose. A significant decrease in the average blood glucose level is observed with a dosage of 2 tables compared to a dosage of single tablet.
[0056] Fig 5b tabulates the results of the trials conducted with the formulation. A 24-hour study reveals average glucose level reduced from 211mg/dl to 196mg/dl with one tablet and 175mg/dl with 2 tablets of the formulation in comparison to the blood glucose level in individuals without any tablet dose.
[0057] The invention discloses a formulation of whole herbs and extracts, which aids in decreasing glucose absorption, improving hepatic insulin signaling, sensitizing glucose transporters and scavenging reactive oxygen species. Thereby, having a facilitatory role and an inhibitory role which is effective in stabilizing glycemic variability in the blood.
[0058] The formulation resulted in the stabilization of glycaemic variability. Thus, implying the quick effect of the formulation and a dose dependent decrease in average blood glucose level is observed.
[0059] The formulation is consumed in the form of supplements, snack bar or a drink in addition to the formulation as tablet or capsule. The formulation is found to be effective in managing blood glucose level in diabetic individuals. The formulation results in reducing the post prandial spike in the blood sugar levels and also reduces the spike in the morning fasting blood sugar levels.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A polyherbal formulation for reducing blood glucose levels, the formulation comprises:
a. an air-dried guava leaf powder at a concentration of 250mg;
b. a guava leaf extract obtained by 60% ethanol extraction method at a concentration of 100mg;
c. a dried jamun fruit powder at a concentration of 100mg;
d. a jamun seed extract obtained by 70% ethanol extraction method at a concentration of 20mg;
e. a dried bitter gourd fruit powder at a concentration of 100mg; and
f. a dried amla fruit powder at a concentration of 50mg.
2. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the formulation is prepared as a snack bar, a drink, a tablet, or a capsule.

3. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the formulation showed the presence of active ingredients such as gallic acid and citric acid, pedunculagin from amla fruit powder, catechin and ellagic acid from jamun fruit powder and jamun seed extracts, quercetin diglycoside, isoquercetin, guaijaverin, morin-3-O-a-lyxopyranoside from guava leaves, and momordicoside I, momordicine I from bitter gourd fruit powder.
4. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the formulation reduced the post prandial spike in the blood sugar and also reduces the spike in the morning fasting blood sugar.
5. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein an extract from bitter gourd fruit powder and an extract from amla fruit powder yields the same effect as the whole herb powder.
6. A method for extraction of herb, wherein the extraction method comprises the steps of:
a. mixing guava leaf powder or jamun seed powder with 40 ml of a solvent (201);
b. stirring the mixture constantly at a temperature range between 600C to 700C for a time duration between 30 to 40 minutes (202);
c. centrifuging the mixture at 6000 rpm for a time duration of 15 minutes (203);
d. filtering the extract with a Whatman filter paper (204);
e. concentrating the filtrate on a rotary evaporator under vacuum at a temperature range between 450C to 500C at 60 rpm (205); and
f. evaporating the ethanol and water completely to obtain the extract from the plant powder (206);
7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plant extract powder is 2.2gm of guava leaf powder extracted with a solvent such as 60% ethanol.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plant extract is 2 gm of jamun seed powder extracted with a solvent such as 70% ethanol.